The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami brought an unprecedented scale of damage to northeastern Japan. Hana wa Saku, or Flowers Will Bloom, was produced to support recovery in disaster-hit areas. In 2021, a multilingual version of the song was created, which is sung in 11 languages. Some singers took part from outside Japan. Some singers translated the lyrics by themselves, while others expressed wish that children of their country will listen to the song. Eleven artists each put their thoughts into the song to try to sow seeds of hope for the future.
Morisaki Win in Burmese, Duan Wenning in Chinese, May J. in English, B.B. Mo-Franck in French, Chadha in Hindi, Hiroaki Kato in Indonesian, Ono Lisa in Portuguese, Vitaly Yushmanov in Russian, Alberto Shiroma in Spanish, Swinky in Swahili and Hai Trieu in Vietnamese.
Morisaki Win / Burmese
Morisaki Win is an actor and singer born in Yangon, Myanmar, who came to Japan at the age of 10. Fluent in Burmese, Japanese and English, he's appeared on stage in musicals as well as on both the Japanese and Hollywood silver screens. He has become a national superstar in his native Myanmar.
Song and interview in Burmese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Morisaki Win is an actor and singer born in Yangon, Myanmar, who came to Japan at the age of 10. Fluent in Burmese, Japanese and English, he's appeared on stage in musicals as well as on both the Japanese and Hollywood silver screens. He has become a national superstar in his native Myanmar.
Song and interview in Burmese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Duan Wenning / Chinese
Duan Wenning was born in Tianjin, China. From 2011, she's gained popularity with a wide audience as an instructor on NHK's Chinese language program. She's currently one of the main personalities for NHK WORLD-JAPAN's Chinese Service programming.
Song in Chinese (simplified) >
Song in Chinese (traditional) >
Duan Wenning was born in Tianjin, China. From 2011, she's gained popularity with a wide audience as an instructor on NHK's Chinese language program. She's currently one of the main personalities for NHK WORLD-JAPAN's Chinese Service programming.
Song in Chinese (simplified) >
Song in Chinese (traditional) >
May J. / English
Born of a Japanese father and Iranian mother, since early childhood, May J. learned the piano, dance and opera, and began songwriting and composing. She made her debut in 2006, and later sang the Japanese version of the theme song for Disney's Frozen. She has been the presenter of the NHK WORLD-JAPAN program J-MELO since 2010.
Song and interview in English >
Born of a Japanese father and Iranian mother, since early childhood, May J. learned the piano, dance and opera, and began songwriting and composing. She made her debut in 2006, and later sang the Japanese version of the theme song for Disney's Frozen. She has been the presenter of the NHK WORLD-JAPAN program J-MELO since 2010.
Song and interview in English >
B.B. Mo-Franck / French
B.B. Mo-Franck is a keyboard player and percussionist from Kinshasa in Congo. After performing across the African continent, he moved to Japan in 1986 and has since then been active nationwide. He was one of the first percussionists to play in the Japanese on-stage rendition of The Lion King by Shiki Theatre Company. Hoping to bring encouragement to the people affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he gave many performances and workshops in the disaster area.
Song and interview in French >
Interview with English subtitles >
B.B. Mo-Franck is a keyboard player and percussionist from Kinshasa in Congo. After performing across the African continent, he moved to Japan in 1986 and has since then been active nationwide. He was one of the first percussionists to play in the Japanese on-stage rendition of The Lion King by Shiki Theatre Company. Hoping to bring encouragement to the people affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he gave many performances and workshops in the disaster area.
Song and interview in French >
Interview with English subtitles >
Chadha / Hindi
Born in New Delhi, Chadha made his debut in 1975 as the first Indian to sing Enka. After receiving several awards and releasing 4 singles and 2 albums, he left the world of music. Later in India, he set up a successful trading company before starting his singing career anew in 2008. He now works in show business, traveling between Japan and India.
Song in Hindi >
Born in New Delhi, Chadha made his debut in 1975 as the first Indian to sing Enka. After receiving several awards and releasing 4 singles and 2 albums, he left the world of music. Later in India, he set up a successful trading company before starting his singing career anew in 2008. He now works in show business, traveling between Japan and India.
Song in Hindi >
Hiroaki Kato / Indonesian
While studying in Indonesia, Tokyo-native Hiroaki Kato experienced the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. After the disaster, he gave volunteer musical performances in the stricken area. Based in Jakarta since 2014, he's been active as a singer-songwriter, MC and actor.
Song and interview in Indonesian >
Interview with English subtitles >
While studying in Indonesia, Tokyo-native Hiroaki Kato experienced the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. After the disaster, he gave volunteer musical performances in the stricken area. Based in Jakarta since 2014, he's been active as a singer-songwriter, MC and actor.
Song and interview in Indonesian >
Interview with English subtitles >
Ono Lisa / Portuguese
Ono Lisa is a Japanese bossa nova singer born in Brazil. Since her debut in 1989, she has received 4 Japanese Gold Disc awards in the jazz category. In 2013, she was granted a medal by the Brazilian government's Order of Rio Branco, given for outstanding contribution to promoting Brazil's international relations.
Song and interview in Portuguese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Ono Lisa is a Japanese bossa nova singer born in Brazil. Since her debut in 1989, she has received 4 Japanese Gold Disc awards in the jazz category. In 2013, she was granted a medal by the Brazilian government's Order of Rio Branco, given for outstanding contribution to promoting Brazil's international relations.
Song and interview in Portuguese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Vitaly Yushmanov / Russian
A baritone born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Vitaly Yushmanov has won awards at many prestigious contests. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he visited schools in the disaster area, interacting with the local children through music lessons. He moved to Japan in 2015 where he has been active as a performer of opera and Japanese songs ever since.
Song and interview in Russian >
Interview with English subtitles >
A baritone born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Vitaly Yushmanov has won awards at many prestigious contests. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, he visited schools in the disaster area, interacting with the local children through music lessons. He moved to Japan in 2015 where he has been active as a performer of opera and Japanese songs ever since.
Song and interview in Russian >
Interview with English subtitles >
Alberto Shiroma / Spanish
Born in Lima, Alberto Shiroma is a third-generation Peruvian of Japanese descent. In 1991, he formed the Latin music band DIAMANTES, which went on to release several hits in Japanese charts. Currently based in Okinawa Prefecture, Shiroma has been collaborating with many artists around Japan as a composer, arranger and performer.
Song and interview in Spanish >
Interview with English subtitles >
Born in Lima, Alberto Shiroma is a third-generation Peruvian of Japanese descent. In 1991, he formed the Latin music band DIAMANTES, which went on to release several hits in Japanese charts. Currently based in Okinawa Prefecture, Shiroma has been collaborating with many artists around Japan as a composer, arranger and performer.
Song and interview in Spanish >
Interview with English subtitles >
Swinky / Swahili
Nairobi-born Swinky sings in a broad range of musical genres from gospel to R&B, along with jazz, soul and rock. She made her solo debut in 2014. In Japan, she has been active as a singer, actress and model. She's currently based in Los Angeles.
Song in Swahili >
Nairobi-born Swinky sings in a broad range of musical genres from gospel to R&B, along with jazz, soul and rock. She made her solo debut in 2014. In Japan, she has been active as a singer, actress and model. She's currently based in Los Angeles.
Song in Swahili >
Hai Trieu / Vietnamese
Born in Hue, Vietnam, Hai Trieu came to study Japan in 2000. He later made his debut as a singer, covering many Japanese songs in his native tongue, and acting as a cultural bridge between Japan and Vietnam. After the 2011 disaster, though his parents were worried for his safety, he told them of his decision to stay in Japan.
Song and interview in Vietnamese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Born in Hue, Vietnam, Hai Trieu came to study Japan in 2000. He later made his debut as a singer, covering many Japanese songs in his native tongue, and acting as a cultural bridge between Japan and Vietnam. After the 2011 disaster, though his parents were worried for his safety, he told them of his decision to stay in Japan.
Song and interview in Vietnamese >
Interview with English subtitles >
Farida Parveen / Bengali
The Bengali version was produced in 2016 to mark the 55th anniversary of the launch of NHK WORLD-JAPAN's Bengali radio service. It is sung by Farida Parveen, one of Bangladesh's most popular singers. It also features some folk instruments.
Song in Bengali >
The Bengali version was produced in 2016 to mark the 55th anniversary of the launch of NHK WORLD-JAPAN's Bengali radio service. It is sung by Farida Parveen, one of Bangladesh's most popular singers. It also features some folk instruments.
Song in Bengali >
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